Traffic signal



Dec, 15, 1936i w. w. MCCLURF. f 2,

TRAFFIC S IGNAL Filed NOV. 13, 1934 mmam WMi/m INVENTOR 25 tween the gaseous discharge tubes and the signal Patented Dec. 15, 1936 T-PATENT .QFFICE' meme SIGNAL William w. McClure, Tulsa, Okla. Application November 13, 1934, Serial No. 152,884

The invention relates to traillc has for its object to provide an illuminated 'traflic signal having traillc control indicia thereon, preferably of contrasting colors and a movable member cooperating with said indicia whereby a vehicle operator approaching the trafllc sig-' nal may ascertain the periodof time the particular indicia has been in operation and the remaining period of the particular indlcia.

A further object is to provide a traffic signal light having colored signals in connection there with and a rotating 'member cooperating with thecolored signal and movingaround the same for indicating the period of time the particular signal color has been in operation, to a vehicle operator, and the period of timeit will remain in operation, thereby allowing the operator to' estimate the end of the signalling operation.

A further object is to' provide a traillc signal light with circumferentially, arranged contrasting signalling stripes, a plurality of correspondingly colored stationary gaseous discharge tubes to the rear of the stationary stripes and out of registration therewith and a rotatable disc beand having an aperture c'ircumferentially registering with thegaseous discharge tubes whereby when rotated, portions of the gaseous discharge tubes will be exposed adjacent the corresponding color of stripes for indicating the duration of a signal and the expected-continued duration.

A further object isto provide a drive motor for the apertured rotatable disc and a gear train drive between the motor and the rotatable disc.

A further object is to provide reflector means behind the gaseous discharge tubes for projecting light rays through theaperture of the apertured disc as it is rotated. 4 0 A further object is to provide a gaseous discharge tube fire stop signal on the trafilcsignal and independently controlled. I A further objectis to provide-means whereby the gear train drive of the apertured disc may be varied for varying the timing of the signal.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it beinglunderstood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what-is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

discharge tube carrying reflector.

3 Claims. (Cl. 116-531 signals, and

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the trafllc signal.

Figure 2 "is a vertical transverse sectional view through the signal.-

'Figure 3 is a'rear view of the'signal with o the rear plate removedv and the flre stop light box eliminated. Figure 4 is a perspective view ofthe apertured disc.

Figure 5 is aperspective view of the gaseous 10 Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates a standard adapted to be placed atan intersection, on the .upperend of which is mounted a casing 2 in which the signalling 15 mechanism is disposed. Supported on the upper side of thecasing 2 is an arcuately shaped light box 3 having a transparent front wall 4 provided with indicia 5 indicating to' approaching vehicles that the engines are approaching and 2 to stop. Disposed within the'light box 3 behind the transparent front wall 4 is a conven- ,tional form of neon tube 6 which is intermitpendent of the control Q: the illuminating means within the casing 2. i Thecasing '2 comprises an annular portion 2a mounted on the standard I, and is provided 30 with a removable back plate 8, whereby access may be had to the mechanism within the casing- 2 for repair and inspection purposes. Although the device is shown as round, it is obvious that it can be of any shape desired, and applicant 5 does not limit himself in this respect. I

Disposed within the casing 2 is a stationary plate 9' having. outwardly extending, arms l0,

'which are anchored at H to the inner periphery .91? the casing 2 as clearlyshown in Figure 3. 4o

Rotatably mounted withina bearing of the plate 9 is a shaft l2, the rear end of which is provided with a pinion I}, which meshes with an inter-- niediate gear H, which is rotatably mounted on a shaft l5. Shaft l-5, when rotated, rotates 45 the disc H, the speed of which may be varied" by mechanism hereinafter set forth, for varying the periods of operation of the signals, The intermediate gear ll meshes with a drive pin-' ion I8 carried by the motor I! within the chamher 20 in the offset portion 2| of the casing back 8, thereby torming a relatively compact "structure. It will be noted that when electric energy is supplied to the motor l9 through the train to the pinion I3, thereby rotating the shaft l2, which has mounted on its forward end the apertured disc |'!,.and by varying the size of the gears in the gear train, the speed of rotation of the apertured disc may be varied. It'

plurality of apertures 25 are-provided in the plate 9 for the reception of shaft IS. The face of the casing 2 is provided with a transparent or semi-transparent closure 26 having circumferentially arranged red, green and yellow stripes 21, 28 and 29 thereon for indicating periods of stop", go and caution; the yellow stripe may be eliminated if desired.

The disc I! is formed of non-transparent material, and adjacent its outer periphery is pro vided with an elongated aperture 30, preferably out of registration with the signalling stripes 21, 28, and 29 as shown in Figure 1, and through which aperture light rays from circumferentially arranged gaseous discharge tubes 21a, 28a and 29a pass,- preferably in corresponding colors to the signalling stripes. 'Therefore it will be seen that as the disc I'I.rotates clockwise the aperture 30 will advance, giving an advancing ray of light around the'signalling stripes, and an approaching vehicle operator may easily ascertain how long the light has been on for the stop, go or caution, and the possible. further duration of the particular signal, therefore it will be seen that the operator, when he approaches the intersection on the go signal, he will know whether he will be able to clear the intersection before the change to "caution, or to stop where the caution signal is not used. Electrical energy is supplied to the gaseous discharge tubes from any suitable source of supply through the wires 3|. The gaseous discharge tubes 21a, 28a and 29a-are circumferentially arranged on a concaved annular reflector 32 which has its lugs connected at 33 to the inner periphery of the casing 2.

From the above it will be seen that a traffic signalling device is provided, by means of which operators of vehicles caneasily ascertain how-long a particular signal has been in operation and how long it will remain in operation,

thereby allowing the operator to accurately judge whether or not he can clear the intersection on the particular signal, and if there is any doubt he can stop. It will also be seen that gaseous discharge tubes are used for illuminatoperations.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A trafiic signal comprising a casing, a transparent stationary base plate in said casing, differently colored concentrically arranged signalling stripes on said stationary transparent plate,

a rotatable disc to the rear of the stationary transparent plate and having an aperture therein out of registration with the signalling stripes on the transparent-plate, said rotatable disc being formed from non-transparent material, concentricallyparranged gaseous discharge tubes to the rear of the rotatable plate, said tubes each having a color corresponding-to one of the concentric stripes on the stationary transparent plate and of corresponding length, said gaseous discharge tubes each being positioned to allow light therefrom to pass through the aperture in the disk and fall on the stripe of the same color.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 including a concentric reflector rearwardly of the rotatable plate and in which the gaseous'discharge tubes are mounted.

3. A traflicsignal comprising a casin a transparent front wall carried by said casing, concentrically arranged contrasting colored signalling stripes on said transparent front wall, a rotatable plate behind the transparent wall and having an-aperture therein out of registration with the concentrically arranged signalling stripes, a concentric illuminating member to the rear of the rotatable plate and positioned whereby light rays will pass through the aperture in the rotatable plate, means for rotating the rotatable plate, said aperture in the rotatable plate being shorter than the signalling stripes.

WILLIAM w. McCLURE. 

